Historic Torch from1936 Berlin Olympics to Be Auctioned in Maryland
By Alexander Historical Auctions LLC, Special for USDR
An official torch from the notorious 1936 Olympics held in Berlin will be offered for sale in Maryland on August 23-24 by Alexander Historical Auctions. The 10 ½” tall steel torch was designed by the firm of Walter E. Lemcke and made by the enormous German war manufacturers, Krupp. It is lightly engraved with a Germanic eagle clutching five Olympic rings above the legend: “FACKEL-STAFFEL-LAUF OLYMPIA–BERLIN 1936″ (“Torch Run Olympia-Berlin 1936″). Also illustrated is the route the flame took, from Olympia, Greece to Berlin. The top of the torch is further engraved: “ALS DANK DEM TRAGER ORGANISATIONS-KOMITEE FUR DIE XI. OLYMPIADE BERLIN 1936,” which indicates that the torch is a gift of the German Olympic Committee to the torch bearer. These torches, totaling less than 3,000, were kept by those who ran the Olympic flame — the first time it was ever run from Greece to the site of the games.
To outshine the 1932 Los Angeles games, Germany constructed a new 100,000 seat stadium, six gyms, and many other impressive facilities. Chancellor Adolf Hitler hoped that the games would impress the world with the “grandeur” of his Third Reich, but an impressive showing by African-American sprinter Jesse Owens, winner of four gold medals, captured most of the headlines…much to the Nazis’ embarrassment.
The auction house has been known to offer other important historical items, including Franklin Roosevelt’s inaugural top hat, a watch given by Marilyn Monroe to John F. Kennedy, Al Capone’s pistol, Adolf Hitler’s copy of “Mein Kampf” and Dwight Eisenhower’s four-star general’s helmet.
The current sale includes equally impressive material:
- An original watercolor painted and signed by Adolf Hitler.
- D-Day invasion plans and maps used to assault Omaha Beach.
- An official ground-breaking shovel used by Fritz Todt to commence work on the Autobahn.
- A Jewish ghetto bank note signed by Oskar Schindler.
- A Japanese flag signed by 26 war crimes trials defendants.
Bidding will be available live, by telephone, and at the bidding websites invaluable.com and liveauctioneers.com, which allow bidders around the world to submit offers in real time as the auction progresses.
SOURCE Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
